Display device having flexible support member having openings

ABSTRACT

A display device including a display panel having a foldable area, a support member disposed on a bottom surface of the display panel and including a plurality of openings formed in the foldable area, and an elastic member disposed on a bottom surface of the support member and overlapping the openings in the foldable area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0075942, filed on Jun. 25, 2019, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to a display device and, moreparticularly, to a flexible display device.

Discussion of the Background

Flat panel display devices are used as display devices and replacing acathode ray tube display device due to lightweight and thincharacteristics thereof. Flat panel display devices may include a liquidcrystal display device and an organic light emitting diode displaydevice, for example.

Recently, flexible display devices have been developed, in which a lowersubstrate and an upper substrate of a display panel included the displaydevice may include a flexible material, such that a portion of thedisplay panel may be bent or folded. For example, the lower substrateincluded in the display panel may be formed of a polyimide substrate,and the upper substrate included in the display panel may have a thinfilm encapsulation structure. In addition, the flexible display devicesmay display an image even in a portion where the display panel isfolded. In particular, the flexible display device may include a displayarea, in which an image is displayed, and a portion of the display areamay be folded. The flexible display device may further include a supportmember disposed on a bottom surface of the display panel and including aplurality of openings. The openings of the support member may overlapthe portion where the display panel is folded. However, when foreignsubstances penetrate into the openings while the flexible display deviceis folded and unfolded, the flexible display device may have defects atthe folded portion.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forunderstanding of the background of the inventive concepts, and,therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute priorart.

SUMMARY

Display devices constructed according to exemplary embodiments of theinvention are capable of preventing defects in a foldable area.

Additional features of the inventive concepts will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the inventive concepts.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a displaypanel having a foldable area, a support member disposed on a bottomsurface of the display panel and including a plurality of openingsformed in the foldable area, and an elastic member disposed on a bottomsurface of the support member and overlapping the openings in thefoldable area.

The display panel may further include a display area, and a portion ofthe display area may be defined as the foldable area.

The openings of the support member may include first to nth openingsarranged in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the displaypanel, in which n is an integer of 1 or more, and a kth opening may bedisposed at a position shifted in a second direction perpendicular tothe first direction, in which k is an even number between 1 and n.

The support member may further include protrusions disposed in a thirddirection opposite to the second direction with respect to each of(k−1)th and (k+1)th openings, among the first to nth openings.

A space between two adjacent protrusions may be defined as a trench, andthe elastic member may extend to a side surface of the support member tocover the trench.

The display device may further include a first step differencecompensation member disposed at a first portion on the bottom surface ofthe support member, and a second step difference compensation memberdisposed at a second portion on the bottom surface of the supportmember.

A bottom surface of each of the first and second step differencecompensation members may be disposed at a same level as a bottom surfaceof the elastic member.

The display device may further include a first adhesive member disposedbetween the support member and the elastic member.

The first adhesive member may contact the support member and the elasticmember to cover the openings.

The display device may further include a shock absorbing member disposedbetween the support member and the display panel.

The display device may further include a second adhesive member disposedbetween the shock absorbing member and the support member, and a thirdadhesive member disposed between the display panel and the shockabsorbing member.

The second adhesive member may contact the shock absorbing member andthe support member to cover the openings.

The third adhesive member may contact the display panel and the shockabsorbing member.

The display device may further include a first metal member disposed ata first portion on a bottom surface of the elastic member, and a secondmetal member disposed at a second portion on the bottom surface of theelastic member while being spaced apart from the first metal member.

Each of the first and second portions may partially overlap the foldablearea.

The display device may further include a fourth adhesive member disposedbetween the first metal member and the elastic member, and a fifthadhesive member disposed between the second metal member and the elasticmember while being spaced apart from the fourth adhesive member.

The display device may further include a first step differencecompensation member disposed at the first portion on the bottom surfaceof the support member, and a second step difference compensation memberdisposed at the second portion on the bottom surface of the supportmember.

A bottom surface of each of the first and second step differencecompensation members may be disposed at a same level as a bottom surfaceof each of the first and second metal members.

The elastic member may be configured to extend to cover the openings ofthe support member disposed in the foldable area when the display panelis folded.

The opening may include an empty space.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theinventive concepts.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a folded shape of a display panelincluded in the display device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing region A of thedisplay device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing region B of thedisplay device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a rear side of the display device of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a lateral side of the display device ofFIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments or implementations of theinvention. As used herein “embodiments” and “implementations” areinterchangeable words that are non-limiting examples of devices ormethods employing one or more of the inventive concepts disclosedherein. It is apparent, however, that various exemplary embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details or with one or moreequivalent arrangements. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring various exemplary embodiments. Further, various exemplaryembodiments may be different, but do not have to be exclusive. Forexample, specific shapes, configurations, and characteristics of anexemplary embodiment may be used or implemented in another exemplaryembodiment without departing from the inventive concepts.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of someways in which the inventive concepts may be implemented in practice.Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the features, components,modules, layers, films, panels, regions, and/or aspects, etc.(hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as “elements”), ofthe various embodiments may be otherwise combined, separated,interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the inventiveconcepts.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the accompanying drawings isgenerally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements. Assuch, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shadingconveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particularmaterials, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalitiesbetween illustrated elements, and/or any other characteristic,attribute, property, etc., of the elements, unless specified. Further,in the accompanying drawings, the size and relative sizes of elementsmay be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When anexemplary embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order. Also, like reference numerals denote like elements.

When an element, such as a layer, is referred to as being “on,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer orintervening elements or layers may be present. When, however, an elementor layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. To this end, the term“connected” may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connection,with or without intervening elements. Further, the D1-axis, the D2-axis,and the D3-axis are not limited to three axes of a rectangularcoordinate system, such as the x, y, and z-axes, and may be interpretedin a broader sense. For example, the D1-axis, the D2-axis, and theD3-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may represent differentdirections that are not perpendicular to one another. For the purposesof this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least oneselected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as Xonly, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z,such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various types of elements, these elements should not be limitedby these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element fromanother element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed asecond element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” “upper,” “over,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), andthe like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, todescribe one elements relationship to another element(s) as illustratedin the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of an apparatus in use, operation, and/ormanufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. Forexample, if the apparatus in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplaryterm “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms, are used as terms ofapproximation and not as terms of degree, and, as such, are utilized toaccount for inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or providedvalues that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, display devices according to exemplary embodiments of theinvention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the accompanying drawings, same or similar referencenumerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a folded shape of adisplay panel included in the display device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is across-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is anenlarged cross-sectional view showing region A of the display device ofFIG. 1. For example, FIGS. 1 and 3 show a state in which a displaydevice 100 is unfolded.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the display device 100 may include adisplay panel 200, a shock absorbing member 410, a support member 500,an elastic member 430, a step difference compensation member 460, andthe like. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the display device 100 mayinclude a display area 10 and a foldable area 20. The display area 10 isan area where an image is displayed from the display panel 200, and thefoldable area 20 is an area where the display device 100 is folded orunfolded. A portion of the display area 10 may be defined in thefoldable area 20. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the step differencecompensation member 460 may include a first step difference compensationmember 461 and a second step difference compensation member 462.Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of openings 535, aplurality of protrusions 530, and a plurality of trenches 520 may beformed in the support member 500.

Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the display panel 200 may beprovided. The display panel 200 may include a plurality of sub-pixels,and may display an image through the sub-pixels. For example, thedisplay panel 200 may have a first surface S1 on which an image isdisplayed, and a second surface S2 facing the first surface S1. Inaddition, the display panel 200 may have a first side surface SS1 and asecond side surface SS2 facing the first side surface SS1. As shown inFIG. 2, when the display panel 200 located in the foldable area 20 isfolded, the first side surface SS1 and the second side surface SS2 maybecome adjacent to each other. In addition, the display panel 200located in the foldable area 20 may have a curved shape. In this case,the first surface S1 may be located on an inner side, and the secondsurface S2 may be located on an outer side. Alternatively, in someexemplary embodiments, the display panel 200 may be folded, such thatthe first surface S1 is located on the outer side and the second surfaceS2 is located on the inner side.

The shock absorbing member 410 may be disposed on the second surface S2of the display panel 200. In particular, the shock absorbing member 410may be disposed between the support member 500 and the display panel200. The shock absorbing member 410 may protect the display panel 200from an external impact. In addition, the shock absorbing member 410 mayinclude a flexible material so that the display panel 200 may be easilyfolded. For example, the shock absorbing member 410 may include amaterial in the form of a foam, such as a polyurethane foam, apolystyrene foam, or the like.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the support member 500 may be disposedon a bottom surface of the shock absorbing member 410. In particular,the support member 500 may be disposed on the second surface S2 of thedisplay panel 200, and may include a plurality of openings 535 formed inthe foldable area 20. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, theopenings 535 may include openings 531 arranged in a first direction D1parallel to a top surface of the display device 100, and openings 532shifted in a second direction D2 orthogonal to the first direction D1and arranged in the first direction D1. In addition, the support member500 may further include a plurality of protrusions 530 protruding in athird direction D3 opposite to the second direction D2. Furthermore, aspace between two adjacent protrusions among the protrusions 530 maydefine a trench 520.

For example, the openings 535 may include first to n^(th) openings(where n is an integer of 1 or more) arranged in the first direction D1,and a k^(th) opening (where k is an even number between 1 and n) amongthe first to n^(th) openings may be located at a position shifted in asecond direction perpendicular to the first direction. In addition, thesupport member 500 may further include protrusions 530 located in thethird direction D3 with respect to each of (k−1)^(th) and (k+1)^(th)openings among the first to n^(th) openings, and the trench 520 may bedefined by the protrusions 530.

The support member 500 may support the display panel 200, and may alsoassist the display panel 200 to be folded. For example, the supportmember 500 may be disposed over the second surface S2 of the displaypanel 200 to support the display panel 200, and the openings 535 formedin the foldable area 20 may assist the display panel 200 to be folded.The openings 535 may be configured as an empty space. In addition, whenthe display device 100 is folded, a shape of each of the openings 535may be deformed. For example, when each of the openings 535 has ageometric shape as illustrated in FIG. 4, the support member 500 locatedin the foldable area 20 may be deformed in a longitudinal direction(e.g., first direction D1) without being deformed in a depth direction(e.g., a direction from the support member 500 toward the display panel200).

The support member 500 may include metal or plastic having a relativelylarge elastic force or a relatively large restoring force. According toan exemplary embodiment, the support member 500 may include steel usestainless (SUS). In some exemplary embodiments, however, the supportmember 500 may include alloys (e.g., superelastic metals), such asnickel-titanium (Ni—Ti), nickel-aluminum (Ni—Al), copper-zinc-nickel(Cu—Zn—Ni), copper-aluminum-nickel (Cu—Al—Ni), copper-aluminum-manganese(Cu—Al—Mn), titanium-nickel-copper-molybdenum (Ti—Ni—Cu—Mo),cobalt-nickel-gallium:iron (Co—Ni—Ga:Fe), silver-nickel (Ag—Ni),gold-cadmium (Au—Cd), iron-platinum (Fe—Pt), iron-nickel (Fe—Ni), andindium-cadmium (In—Cd).

Although each of the openings 535 has been described as having arectangular shape when viewed in a plan view, the inventive concepts arenot limited to a particular shape of each of the openings 535. Forexample, each of the openings 535 may have substantially a triangularshape, a rhombic shape, a polygonal shape, a circular shape, a trackshape, or an elliptical shape, when viewed from a plan view.

The elastic member 430 may be disposed at a portion of a bottom surfaceof the support member 500. In particular, the elastic member 430 mayoverlap the openings 535 in the foldable area 20 on the bottom surfaceof the support member 500. As such, the elastic member 430 may preventthe openings 535 from being exposed. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the elastic member 430 may not be disposed inside each ofthe openings 535, such that the openings 535 may be configured as emptyspaces. While the display device 100 is repeatedly folded and unfolded,the elastic member 430 may prevent foreign substances from penetratinginto the openings 535 and the trench 520. In addition, while the displaydevice 100 is repeatedly folded and unfolded, the elastic member 430 maybe extended and contracted to prevent the openings 535 from beingexposed. The elastic member 430 may include an elastomer having arelatively large elastic force or a relatively large restoring force.For example, the elastic member 430 may include an elastic material,such as silicone, urethane, or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

For example, when a conventional display device is repeatedly folded andunfolded, foreign substances may penetrate into the openings 535. Thepenetrated foreign substances may not escape out of the openings 535. Inthis case, due to the foreign substances, the support member 500 locatedin the foldable area 20 may be damaged, or the shapes of the openings535 may be deformed, which may cause defects in the foldable area 20 ofthe conventional display device.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the elastic member 430 is disposedon the openings 535 to prevent the openings 535 from being exposed toprevent the foreign substances from being located in the openings 535.

The step difference compensation member 460 may be disposed on thebottom surface of the support member 500 while being spaced apart fromthe elastic member 430. For example, the first step differencecompensation member 461 may be disposed at a first portion on the bottomsurface of the support member 500, and the second step differencecompensation member 462 may be disposed at a second portion on thebottom surface of the support member 500. According to an exemplaryembodiment, a bottom surface of the step difference compensation member460 may be located at the same level as a bottom surface of the elasticmember 430. The step difference compensation member 460 may prevent thedisplay panel 200 from sagging at a portion where the elastic member 430is not disposed. The step difference compensation member 460 may includepolyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalene (PEN),polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polysulfone(PSul), polyethylene (PE), polyphthalamide (PPA), polyether sulfone(PES), polyarylate (PAR), polycarbonate oxide (PCO), modifiedpolyphenylene oxide (MPPO), etc.

The display device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment includes theelastic member 430 disposed on the openings 535 to prevent the openings535 from being exposed, such that the foreign substances may not belocated in the openings 535. In this manner, defects may not occur inthe foldable area 20 of the display device.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing region B of thedisplay device of FIG. 3.

The display panel 200 may include a substrate 110, a semiconductorelement 250, a planarization layer 270, a lower electrode 290, a pixeldefining layer 310, a light emitting layer 330, an upper electrode 340,a first thin film encapsulation layer 451, a second thin filmencapsulation layer 452, a third thin film encapsulation layer 453, andthe like. The semiconductor element 250 may include an active layer 130,a gate insulating layer 150, a gate electrode 170, an interlayerinsulating layer 190, a source electrode 210, and a drain electrode 230.

The substrate 110 may include a transparent or opaque material. In someexemplary embodiments, the substrate 110 may be disposed on a lowerprotective film. The substrate 110 may be formed of a transparent resinsubstrate, such as a polyimide substrate. In this case, the polyimidesubstrate may include a first polyimide layer, a barrier film layer, asecond polyimide layer, and the like. In other exemplary embodiments,the substrate 110 may include a quartz substrate, a synthetic quartzsubstrate, a calcium fluoride substrate, a fluorine-doped quartzsubstrate (F-doped quartz substrate), a soda lime glass substrate, anon-alkali glass substrate, etc.

A buffer layer may be disposed on the substrate 110. The buffer layermay prevent metal atoms or impurities from diffusing from the substrate110 to the semiconductor element 250, and may control a heat transferrate during a crystallization process for forming the active layer 130to obtain a substantially uniform active layer 130. In addition, when asurface of the substrate 110 is not uniform, the buffer layer mayimprove flatness of the surface of the substrate 110. Depending on atype of the substrate 110, at least two buffer layers may be provided onthe substrate 110, or the buffer layer may be omitted. For example, thebuffer layer may include an organic material or an inorganic material.

The active layer 130 may be disposed on the substrate 110. The activelayer 130 may include a metal oxide semiconductor, an inorganicsemiconductor (e.g., amorphous silicon or poly silicon semiconductor),an organic semiconductor, etc. The active layer 130 may have source anddrain regions.

The gate insulating layer 150 may be disposed on the active layer 130.For example, the gate insulating layer 150 may sufficiently cover theactive layer 130 on the substrate 110, and may have a substantially flattop surface without creating a step around the active layer 130. In someexemplary embodiments, the gate insulating layer 150 may be disposedalong a profile of the active layer 130 with a substantially uniformthickness to cover the active layer 130 on the substrate 110. The gateinsulating layer 150 may include a silicon compound, metal oxide, etc.For example, the gate insulating layer 150 may include silicon oxide(SiO_(x)), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), silicon oxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y)),silicon oxycarbide (SiO_(x)C_(y)), silicon carbonitride (SiC_(x)N_(y)),aluminum oxide (AlO_(x)), aluminum nitride (AlN_(x)), tantalum oxide(TaO_(x)), hafnium oxide (HfO_(x)), zirconium oxide (ZrO_(x)), titaniumoxide (TiO_(x)), etc. In other exemplary embodiments, the gateinsulating layer 150 may have a multilayer structure including aplurality of insulating layers. For example, the insulating layers mayhave different thicknesses and/or may include different materials.

The gate electrode 170 may be disposed on the gate insulating layer 150.The gate electrode 170 may be disposed at a portion of the gateinsulating layer 150, under which the active layer 130 is located. Thegate electrode 170 may include metal, an alloy, metal nitride,conductive metal oxide, a transparent conductive material, etc. Forexample, the gate electrode 170 may include gold (Au), silver (Ag),aluminum (Al), tungsten (W), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni),titanium (Ti), palladium (Pd), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), lithium(Li), chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), scandium (Sc),neodymium (Nd), iridium (Ir), an aluminum-containing alloy, aluminumnitride (AlN_(x)), a silver-containing alloy, tungsten nitride (WN_(x)),a copper-containing alloy, a molybdenum-containing alloy, titaniumnitride (TiN_(x)), chromium nitride (CrN_(x)), tantalum nitride(TaN_(x)), strontium ruthenium oxide (SrRu_(x)O_(y)), zinc oxide(ZnO_(x)), indium tin oxide (ITO), tin oxide (SnO_(x)), indium oxide(InO_(x)), gallium oxide (GaO_(x)), indium zinc oxide (IZO), etc. Thesemay be used alone or in combination with each other. In other exemplaryembodiments, the gate electrode 170 may have a multilayer structureincluding a plurality of metal layers. For example, the metal layers mayhave different thicknesses and/or may include different materials.

The interlayer insulating layer 190 may be disposed on the gateelectrode 170. The interlayer insulating layer 190 may sufficientlycover the gate electrode 170 on the gate insulating layer 150, and mayhave a substantially flat top surface without creating a step around thegate electrode 170. In some exemplary embodiments, the interlayerinsulating layer 190 may be disposed along a profile of the gateelectrode 170 with a substantially uniform thickness to cover the gateelectrode 170 on the gate insulating layer 150. The interlayerinsulating layer 190 may include a silicon compound, metal oxide, etc.In some exemplary embodiments, the interlayer insulating layer 190 mayhave a multilayer structure including a plurality of insulating layers.For example, the insulating layers may have different thicknesses and/ormay include different materials.

The source electrode 210 and the drain electrode 230 may be disposed onthe interlayer insulating layer 190. The source electrode 210 may beconnected to the source region of the active layer 130 through a contacthole formed by removing first parts of the gate insulating layer 150 andthe interlayer insulating layer 190, and the drain electrode 230 may beconnected to the drain region of the active layer 130 through a contacthole formed by removing second parts of the gate insulating layer 150and the interlayer insulating layer 190. Each of the source electrode210 and the drain electrode 230 may include metal, an alloy, metalnitride, conductive metal oxide, a transparent conductive material, etc.These may be used alone or in combination with each other. In otherexemplary embodiments, each of the source electrode 210 and the drainelectrode 230 may have a multilayer structure including a plurality ofmetal layers. For example, the metal layers may have differentthicknesses and/or may include different materials.

Accordingly, the semiconductor element 250 including the active layer130, the gate insulating layer 150, the gate electrode 170, theinterlayer insulating layer 190, the source electrode 210, and the drainelectrode 230 may be provided.

Although the semiconductor element 250 has been described as having atop gate structure, the inventive concept are not limited thereto. Forexample, in some exemplary embodiments, the semiconductor element 250may have a bottom gate structure, a double gate structure, etc.

In addition, although the display device 100 has been described asincluding one semiconductor element, the inventive concepts are notlimited thereto. For example, the display device 100 may include atleast one semiconductor element and at least one storage capacitor.

The planarization layer 270 may be disposed on the interlayer insulatinglayer 190, the source electrode 210, and the drain electrode 230. Forexample, the planarization layer 270 may have a relatively thickthickness. In this case, the planarization layer 270 may have asubstantially flat top surface. In order to implement such a flat topsurface of the planarization layer 270, a planarization process may beadditionally performed on the planarization layer 270. In some exemplaryembodiments, the planarization layer 270 may be disposed along a profileof the source electrode 210 and the drain electrode 230 with asubstantially uniform thickness on the interlayer insulating layer 190.The planarization layer 270 may be formed of an organic material or aninorganic material. In an exemplary embodiment, the planarization layer270 may include an organic material. For example, the planarizationlayer 270 may include a photoresist, a polyacryl-based resin, apolyimide-based resin, a polyamide-based resin, a siloxane-based resin,an acryl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, etc.

The lower electrode 290 may be disposed on the planarization layer 270.The lower electrode 290 may be connected to the drain electrode 230through a contact hole formed by removing a portion of the planarizationlayer 270, such that the lower electrode 290 may be electricallyconnected to the semiconductor element 250. The lower electrode 290 mayinclude metal, an alloy, metal nitride, conductive metal oxide, atransparent conductive material, etc. These may be used alone or incombination with each other. In other exemplary embodiments, the lowerelectrode 290 may have a multilayer structure including a plurality ofmetal layers. For example, the metal layers may have differentthicknesses and/or may include different materials.

The pixel defining layer 310 may be disposed on the planarization layer270. For example, the pixel defining layer 310 may expose a portion of atop surface of the lower electrode 290 while covering both sides of thelower electrode 290. The pixel defining layer 310 may be formed of anorganic material or an inorganic material. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the pixel defining layer 310 may include an organicmaterial.

The light emitting layer 330 may be disposed on the pixel defining layer310 and the lower electrode 290. The light emitting layer 330 may beformed by using at least one of light emitting materials for emittingdifferent colors of light (e.g., red light, green light, blue light,etc.) according to sub-pixels. Alternatively, the light emitting layer330 may be formed by laminating a plurality of light emitting materialsfor emitting different colors of light, such as red light, green light,and blue light to emit white light as a whole. In this case, a colorfilter may be disposed on the light emitting layer 330 that is disposedon the lower electrode 290. The color filter may include at least one ofa red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter. Insome exemplary embodiments, the color filter may include a yellow colorfilter, a cyan color filter, and a magenta color filter, for example.The color filter may include a photosensitive resin or a colorphotoresist.

The upper electrode 340 may be disposed on the light emitting layer 330and the pixel defining layer 310. The upper electrode 340 may includemetal, an alloy, metal nitride, conductive metal oxide, a transparentconductive material, etc. These may be used alone or in combination witheach other. In other exemplary embodiments, the upper electrode 340 mayhave a multilayer structure including a plurality of metal layers. Forexample, the metal layers may have different thicknesses and/or mayinclude different materials.

The first thin film encapsulation layer 451 may be disposed on the upperelectrode 340. The first thin film encapsulation layer 451 may bedisposed along a profile of the upper electrode 340 with a substantiallyuniform thickness to cover the upper electrode 340. The first thin filmencapsulation layer 451 may prevent the light emitting layer 330 frombeing deteriorated due to penetration of moisture, oxygen, or the like.In addition, the first thin film encapsulation layer 451 may alsoprotect the display panel 200 from an external impact. The first thinfilm encapsulation layer 451 may include inorganic materials havingflexibility.

The second thin film encapsulation layer 452 may be disposed on thefirst thin film encapsulation layer 451. The second thin filmencapsulation layer 452 may improve flatness of the display panel 200and protect the display panel 200. The second thin film encapsulationlayer 452 may include organic materials having flexibility.

The third thin film encapsulation layer 453 may be disposed on thesecond thin film encapsulation layer 452. The third thin filmencapsulation layer 453 may be disposed along a profile of the secondthin film encapsulation layer 452 with a substantially uniform thicknessto cover the second thin film encapsulation layer 452. The third thinfilm encapsulation layer 453 may prevent the light emitting layer 330from being deteriorated due to the penetration of moisture, oxygen, orthe like together with the first thin film encapsulation layer 451. Inaddition, the third thin film encapsulation layer 453 may also protectthe display panel 200 from an external impact together with the firstthin film encapsulation layer 451 and the second thin film encapsulationlayer 452. The third thin film encapsulation layer 453 may includeinorganic materials having flexibility.

Accordingly, the display panel 200 including the substrate 110, thesemiconductor element 250, the planarization layer 270, the lowerelectrode 290, the pixel defining layer 310, the light emitting layer330, the upper electrode 340, the first thin film encapsulation layer451, the second thin film encapsulation layer 452, and the third thinfilm encapsulation layer 453 may be provided.

Although the display device 100 according to the illustrated exemplaryembodiment has been described as being an organic light emitting diodedisplay device, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. In otherexemplary embodiments, the display device 100 may include a liquidcrystal display device (LCD), a field emission display device (FED), aplasma display device (PDP), or an electrophoretic image display device(EPD).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment. A display device 700 illustrated in FIG. 6 mayhave a configuration substantially identical or similar to theconfiguration of the display device 100 described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5, except for a first adhesive member 425, a second adhesivemember 415, a third adhesive member 205, a fourth adhesive member 436, afifth adhesive member 437, and a metal member 705. As such, repeateddescriptions of components substantially identical or similar to thecomponents described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 will be omitted toavoid redundancy. For example, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the displaydevice 700 is unfolded.

Referring to FIG. 6, the display device 700 may include a display panel200, a third adhesive member 205, a shock absorbing member 410, a secondadhesive member 415, a support member 500, a first adhesive member 425,an elastic member 430, a fourth adhesive member 436, a fifth adhesivemember 437, a metal member 705, and a step difference compensationmember 460. The display device 700 may include a display area 10 and afoldable area 20. The display area 10 is an area where an image isdisplayed from the display panel 200, and the foldable area 20 is anarea where the display device 700 is folded or unfolded. A portion ofthe display area 10 may be defined as the foldable area 20. In addition,the step difference compensation member 460 may include a first stepdifference compensation member 461 and a second step differencecompensation member 462, and the metal member 705 may include a firstmetal member 710 and a second metal member 720. Furthermore, a pluralityof openings 535, a plurality of protrusions 530, and a plurality oftrenches 520 may be formed in the support member 500.

The first adhesive member 425 may be disposed between the support member500 and the elastic member 430. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment,a top surface of the first adhesive member 425 may make direct contactwith the support member 500, and a bottom surface of the first adhesivemember 425 may make direct contact with the elastic member 430. Inaddition, the first adhesive member 425 may cover the openings 535. Thefirst adhesive member 425 may attach the elastic member 430 onto thebottom surface of the support member 500. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the first adhesive member 425 may not be disposed insideeach of the openings 535, such that the openings 535 may be configuredas empty spaces. While the display device 700 is repeatedly folded andunfolded, the first adhesive member 425 may prevent foreign substancesfrom penetrating into the openings 535 and the trench 520 together withthe elastic member 430. In addition, while the display device 700 isrepeatedly folded and unfolded, the first adhesive member 425 may beextended and contracted to prevent the openings 535 from being exposed.

The first adhesive member 425 may include an optical clear adhesive(OCA), a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), a photocurable resin, athermosetting resin, etc. For example, the adhesive may include PET,PEN, PP, PC, PS, PSul, PE, PPA, PES, PAR, PCO, MPPO, and the like, andthe resin may include an epoxy resin, an amino resin, a phenol resin, aurea resin, a melamine resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, apolyurethane resin, a polyimide resin, and the like.

The second adhesive member 415 may be disposed between the shockabsorbing member 410 and the support member 500. In the exemplaryembodiments, a top surface of the second adhesive member 415 may makedirect contact with the shock absorbing member 410, and a bottom surfaceof the second adhesive member 415 may make direct contact with thesupport member 500. In addition, the second adhesive member 415 maycover the openings 535. The second adhesive member 415 may adhere theshock absorbing member 410 onto a top surface of the support member 500.In the exemplary embodiments, the second adhesive member 415 may not bedisposed inside each of the openings 535 such that the openings 535 maybe configured as empty spaces. The second adhesive member 415 mayinclude an OCA, a PSA, a photocurable resin, a thermosetting resin, etc.

The third adhesive member 205 may be disposed between the display panel200 and the shock absorbing member 410. In the exemplary embodiments, atop surface of the third adhesive member 205 may make direct contactwith the display panel 200, and a bottom surface of the third adhesivemember 205 may make direct contact with the shock absorbing member 410.In addition, the third adhesive member 205 may adhere the display panel200 to the shock absorbing member 410. The third adhesive member 205 mayinclude an OCA, a PSA, a photocurable resin, a thermosetting resin, etc.

The metal member 705 may be disposed on the bottom surface of theelastic member 430. For example, the first metal member 710 may bedisposed at a first portion on the bottom surface of the elastic member430, and the second metal member 720 may be disposed at a second portionof the bottom surface of the elastic member 430. In this case, each ofthe first and second portions of the elastic member 430 may partiallyoverlap the foldable area 20. In the exemplary embodiments, the firstmetal member 710 and the second metal member 720 may be spaced apartfrom each other in the first direction D1. A spaced distance may bedetermined according to the radius of curvature of the foldable area 20.In the exemplary embodiments, the metal member 705 may prevent thedisplay panel 200 from sagging in the foldable area 20, and may serve toblock static electricity, electromagnetic waves, electric fields,magnetic fields, and the like which are generated from an outside. Themetal member 705 may include SUS. In some embodiments, the metal membermay include Au, Ag, Al, W, Cu, Pt, Ni, Ti, Pd, Mg, Ca, Li, Cr, Ta, Mo,Sc, Nd, Ir, an aluminum-containing alloy, AlN_(x), a silver-containingalloy, WN_(x), a copper-containing alloy, a molybdenum-containing alloy,TiN_(x), CrN_(x), TaN_(x), SrRu_(x)O_(y), ZnO_(x), ITO, SnO_(x),InO_(x), GaO_(x), IZO, etc. These may be used alone or in combinationwith each other. In other exemplary embodiments, a step differencecompensation member and an adhesive member may be additionally disposedon a bottom surface of the metal member 705. The adhesive member maymake contact with a set member surrounding the display device 700, andthe step difference compensation member may prevent the display panel200 from sagging in the foldable area 20 together with the metal member705.

The fourth adhesive member 436 may be disposed between the first metalmember 710 and the elastic member 430. In the exemplary embodiments, atop surface of the fourth adhesive member 436 may make direct contactwith the elastic member 430, and a bottom surface of the fourth adhesivemember 436 may make direct contact with the first metal member 710. Thefourth adhesive member 436 may adhere the first metal member 710 to thefirst portion on the bottom surface of the elastic member 430. The fifthadhesive member 437 may be disposed between the second metal member 720and the elastic member 430. In the exemplary embodiments, a top surfaceof the fifth adhesive member 437 may make direct contact with theelastic member 430, and a bottom surface of the fifth adhesive member437 may make direct contact with the second metal member 720. Inaddition, the fourth adhesive member 436 and the fifth adhesive member437 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction D1. Thefifth adhesive member 437 may adhere the second metal member 720 to thesecond portion on the bottom surface of the elastic member 430. Each ofthe fourth adhesive member 436 and the fifth adhesive member 437 mayinclude an OCA, a PSA, a photocurable resin, a thermosetting resin, etc.

In other exemplary embodiments, a first step difference compensationmember may be additionally disposed at the first portion on the bottomsurface of the elastic member 430 together with the fourth adhesivemember 436, and a second step difference compensation member may beadditionally disposed at the second portion on the bottom surface of theelastic member 430 together with the fifth adhesive member 437. Thefirst and second step difference compensation members may prevent thedisplay panel 200 from sagging in the foldable area 20.

The step difference compensation member 460 may be spaced apart from thefirst adhesive member 425, the elastic member 430, the fourth adhesivemember 436, and the metal member 705 on the bottom surface of thesupport member 500. For example, the first step difference compensationmember 461 may be disposed at the first portion on the bottom surface ofthe support member 500, and the second step difference compensationmember 462 may be disposed at the second portion on the bottom surfaceof the support member 500. In the exemplary embodiments, the bottomsurface of the step difference compensation member 460 may be located atthe same level as the bottom surface of the metal member 705. The stepdifference compensation member 460 may prevent the display panel 200from sagging in a portion where the metal member 705 is not disposed.The step difference compensation member 460 may include PET, PEN, PP,PC, PS, PSul, PE, PPA, PES, PAR, PCO, MPPO, etc. In other exemplaryembodiments, an additional adhesive member may be disposed on the bottomsurface of the step difference compensation member 460 to make contactwith a set member surrounding the display device 700.

The display device 700 according to an exemplary embodiment includes theelastic member 430 disposed on the openings 535 to prevent the openings535 from being exposed, so that the foreign substances may not belocated in the openings 535. In this manner, defects may not occur inthe foldable area 20 of the display device 700.

In addition, the display device 700 includes the metal member 705, sothat the display panel 200 may be prevented from sagging in the foldablearea 20, and static electricity, electromagnetic waves, electric fields,magnetic fields, and the like, which may be generated from the outside,may be blocked.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a rear side of the displaydevice of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a side view showing a lateral side ofthe display device of FIG. 7. A display device 800 illustrated in FIGS.7, 8, and 9 may have a configuration substantially identical or similarto the configuration of the display device 100 described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 5, except for an elastic member 830. As such, repeateddescriptions of components substantially identical or similar to thecomponents described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 will be omitted toavoid redundancy. For example, FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show a state in whichthe display device 800 is unfolded.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the display device 800 may include adisplay panel 200, a shock absorbing member 410, a support member 500,an elastic member 830, and a step difference compensation member 460. Inthis case, the display device 800 may include a display area 10 and afoldable area 20. The display area 10 is an area where an image isdisplayed from the display panel 200, and the foldable area 20 is anarea where the display device 800 is folded or unfolded. A portion ofthe display area 10 may be defined as the foldable area 20. In addition,the step difference compensation member 460 may include a first stepdifference compensation member 461 and a second step differencecompensation member 462. Furthermore, a plurality of openings 535, aplurality of protrusions 530, and a plurality of trenches 520 may beformed in the support member 500.

The elastic member 830 may be disposed at a portion of the bottomsurface of the support member 500 and a portion of a side surface of thesupport member 500. In particular, the elastic member 830 may overlapthe trenches 520 in the foldable area 20 on the side surface of thesupport member 500, while overlapping the openings 535 in the foldablearea 20 on the bottom surface of the support member 500. In this manner,the elastic member 830 may prevent the openings 535 and the trenches 520from being exposed. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the elasticmember 830 may not be disposed inside each of the openings 535 and thetrenches 520, such that the openings 535 and the trenches 520 may beconfigured as empty spaces. While the display device 800 is repeatedlyfolded and unfolded, the elastic member 830 may prevent foreignsubstances from penetrating into the openings 535 and the trenches 520.In addition, while the display device 800 is repeatedly folded andunfolded, the elastic member 830 may be extended and contracted toprevent the openings 535 and the trenches 520 from being exposed. Theelastic member 830 may include an elastomer having a relatively largeelastic force or a relatively large restoring force. For example, theelastic member 830 may include an elastic material, such as silicone,urethane, or TPU.

The display device 800 according to the illustrated exemplary embodimentincludes the elastic member 830, so that the openings 535 and thetrenches 520 of the support member 500 may be covered to prevent theforeign substances from being located in the openings 535 and thetrenches 520. Accordingly, defects due to the foreign substances may notoccur in the display device 800.

The inventive concepts may be applied to various electronic devicesincluding a display device. For example, the inventive concepts may beapplied to a vehicle-display device, a ship-display device, anaircraft-display device, portable communication devices, display devicesfor display or for information transfer, a medical-display device, etc.

As the display device according to the exemplary embodiments includesthe elastic member disposed on the openings to prevent the openings frombeing exposed, the foreign substances may not be located in theopenings. Accordingly, defects may not occur in the foldable area of thedisplay device.

In addition, as the display device includes the metal member, thedisplay panel may be prevented from sagging in the foldable area, andstatic electricity, electromagnetic waves, electric fields, magneticfields, and the like, which may be generated from the outside, may beblocked.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concepts are notlimited to such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of theappended claims and various obvious modifications and equivalentarrangements as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in theart.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panelhaving a foldable area; a support member disposed on a bottom surface ofthe display panel and having a first width along a longitudinaldirection thereof, the support member including a plurality of openingsformed in the foldable area; and an elastic member disposed on a bottomsurface of the support member, having a second width less than the firstwidth, and overlapping the openings in the foldable area, wherein theopenings of the support member include first to nth openings arranged ina first direction parallel to a top surface of the display panel, inwhich n is an integer of 1 or more, and wherein a kth opening isdisposed at a position shifted in a second direction perpendicular tothe first direction, in which k is an even number between 1 and n. 2.The display device of claim 1, wherein: the display panel furtherincludes a display area; and a portion of the display area is defined asthe foldable area.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the supportmember further includes protrusions disposed in a third directionopposite to the second direction with respect to each of (k−1)th and(k+1)th openings, among the first to nth openings.
 4. The display deviceof claim 3, wherein: a space between two adjacent protrusions is definedas a trench; and the elastic member extends to a side surface of thesupport member to cover the trench.
 5. The display device of claim 1,further comprising: a first step difference compensation member disposedat a first portion on the bottom surface of the support member; and asecond step difference compensation member disposed at a second portionon the bottom surface of the support member.
 6. The display device ofclaim 1, further comprising a first adhesive member disposed between thesupport member and the elastic member.
 7. The display device of claim 6,wherein the first adhesive member contacts the support member and theelastic member to cover the openings.
 8. The display device of claim 1,further comprising a shock absorbing member disposed between the supportmember and the display panel.
 9. The display device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first metal member disposed at a first portion on a bottomsurface of the elastic member; and a second metal member disposed at asecond portion on the bottom surface of the elastic member while beingspaced apart from the first metal member.
 10. The display device ofclaim 9, wherein each of the first and second portions partiallyoverlaps the foldable area.
 11. The display device of claim 9, furthercomprising: a fourth adhesive member disposed between the first metalmember and the elastic member; and a fifth adhesive member disposedbetween the second metal member and the elastic member while beingspaced apart from the fourth adhesive member.
 12. The display device ofclaim 9, further comprising: a first step difference compensation memberdisposed at the first portion on a bottom surface of the support member;and a second step difference compensation member disposed at the secondportion on a bottom surface of the support member.
 13. The displaydevice of claim 12, wherein a bottom surface of each of the first andsecond step difference compensation members is disposed at a same levelas a bottom surface of each of the first and second metal members. 14.The display device of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is configuredto extend to cover the openings of the support member disposed in thefoldable area when the display panel is folded.
 15. The display deviceof claim 1, wherein at least one of the openings comprises an emptyspace.
 16. A display device comprising: a display panel having afoldable area; a support member disposed on a bottom surface of thedisplay panel and including a plurality of openings formed in thefoldable area; and an elastic member disposed on a bottom surface of thesupport member and overlapping the openings in the foldable area; afirst step difference compensation member disposed at a first portion onthe bottom surface of the support member; and a second step differencecompensation member disposed at a second portion on the bottom surfaceof the support member, wherein a bottom surface of each of the first andsecond step difference compensation members is disposed at a same levelas a bottom surface of the elastic member.
 17. A display devicecomprising: a display panel having a foldable area; a support memberdisposed on a bottom surface of the display panel and including aplurality of openings formed in the foldable area; an elastic memberdisposed on a bottom surface of the support member and overlapping theopenings in the foldable area; a shock absorbing member disposed betweenthe support member and the display panel; a first adhesive memberdisposed between the shock absorbing member and the support member; anda second adhesive member disposed between the display panel and theshock absorbing member.
 18. The display device of claim 17, wherein thefirst adhesive member contacts the shock absorbing member and thesupport member to cover the openings.
 19. The display device of claim17, wherein the second adhesive member contacts the display panel andthe shock absorbing member.